# NTSB DEN84FA223: Cessna 310H, N1111Q, Questa, NM, March 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 11, 1984, 17:00 local (Mar 12, 1984, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Questa, NM
- Coordinates: 36.709724, -105.590461 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7097&lon=-105.5905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16230
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA223
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16230/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA223

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN AT THE 12500 FT LEVEL.THE SUMMIT WAS ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE CRASH SITE. A FRIEND OF THE PLT WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE IIC FROM NTSB. THIS FRIEND WAS THE HOST OF THE 3 ACCIDENT VICTIMS FOR THE WEEKEND AT HIS GUNNISON RANCH. THE HOST, BECAUSE HE WAS A PLT ASKED THE GUEST PLT TO POSTPONE THE FLT. THE HOST WAS ASSURED THAT IFTHE WX CONDITIONS WERE NOT GOOD THE FLT WOULD RETURN TO THE RANCH. THE GUEST PLT WAS DESCRIBED BY THE HOST AS BEING 'THEBEST PASTURE PLT I EVER KNEW.' HE ALSO STATED THE PLT HATED TO USE THE RADIO, NEVER FILED A FLT PLAN AND WAS NOT VERSED IN OMNI. ONMI IS SLANG FOR VOR NAVIGATION OR VERY HIGH FREQUENCY OMNIDIRECTIONAL RADIO RANGE. THE PLT HAD BEEN ADVISED BY FSS SPECIALISTS THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED ALONG HIS PLANNED ROUTE BECAUSE OF ICING LEVELS & MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION. THE PLT CHOSE TO GO ANYWAY AND DEPARTED WITHOUT FILING A FLT PLAN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1111Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1111Q-2009-06-25), registration cancelled 2009-06-25, S/N 310H0111, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310H
- Registry model: [Cessna 310H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310h) (registry code 2074220) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310H0111
- Airframe hours: 2593
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alonzo Burl Rylee
- Registered owner: J. Michael Migel, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 1982
- Departed: GUC, GUNNISON, CO
- Destination: CXO, CONROE, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 5,200 total, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALS, 51 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840311031509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840311031509A), Mar 11, 1984: Cessna 310H, Questa, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Disregarded forecasted IFR weather. Impacted side of mountain in straight and level flight. .

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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